Maryland to Raise Speed Limit on New Highway

Monday, February 04, 2013 - 05:39 PM

The speed limit on Maryland's new, $3 billion highway will be raised to 60 m.p.h. by March 31, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority. The current limit on the Intercounty Connector is 55.

The higher limit may satisfy some drivers but won't speed up their commutes significantly.

"Going from 55 to 60 really only represents a time savings of about a minute and a half," said MDTA Executive Secretary Harold M. Bartlett.

The agency studied the highway's geometry and performed a crash analysis for the ICC's first year of operations before deciding to bump the speed limit.

“We are confident that a 60 m.p.h speed limit is safe and justifiable based on the design speed and geometry of the roadway, as well as on the speed most motorists are comfortable traveling the ICC," Bartlett said.

There is no national speed limit. States are free to set their own limits guided by safety considerations. Texas recently posted the highest speed limit in the U.S. at 85 m.p.h. also for a new toll road, and did so in part for financial reasons.

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Comments [1]

Brian Shea, Sr
from Cunberland

How pathetic! Maryland had the opportunity to race speed limit to 70 miles an hour but rejected the bill. Our neighboring state to the west, West Virginia, has a maximum speed limit of 70 miles per hour. anyone who has drove interstate 68 in West Virginia knows that you cannot possibly drive 70 miles per hour on that stretch of road. There is absolutely no stretch of highway that could not be driven safely at 70 miles per hour in Maryland. I believe that the Maryland State Police pressure the legislators not to pass the bill in order to maintain their ability to continue writing tickets.The Maryland State Police was against raising it to 65 miles per hour in 1995, Their undue influence will make any rational thinker believe that they did not also oppose raising the state maximum speed limit to 70 miles per hour!!!

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